Could Electromagnetic Railguns Launch Resources from the Moon ?

In 1974, Gerard O'Neill, a Princeton University professor and space visionary, proposed using electromagnetic rail guns, or "mass drivers," to launch payloads from the Moon. These mass drivers, based on a coil gun design, were intended to accelerate non-magnetic objects, enabling the launch of lunar materials into space for manufacturing purposes. O'Neill, working with Henry H. Kolm and student volunteers at MIT, developed the first prototype mass driver with support from the Space Studies Institute. Over time, subsequent prototypes have refined and improved upon this concept.

Today, this concept finds a practical application aboard the U.S. Navy's Gerald R. Ford nuclear aircraft carrier. The carrier employs the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which uses electromagnetic fields to launch aircraft. Manufactured by General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS), EMALS has successfully completed over 10,000 launches and landings, proving its reliability and efficiency.

In a report titled "Lunar Electromagnetic Launch for Resource Exploitation to Enhance National Security and Economic Growth," General Atomics outlined a vision for applying electromagnetic launch technology to lunar resource exploitation. Authored by Robert Peterkin, the report was submitted to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). It emphasizes that the Moon is rich in resources such as silicon, titanium, aluminum, and iron, and highlights the potential for using lunar water.

The report proposes that a future lunar economy could use these resources to resupply, repair, and refuel spacecraft in lunar orbit more cost-effectively than transporting resources from Earth. Electromagnetic launches from the lunar surface are highlighted as more efficient than chemical rocket launches, which require fuel to be imported from Earth. By using solar energy as a power source, these launches could be more sustainable.

Peterkin advocates for the U.S. government to fund the development of a lunar electromagnetic launch system, evolving from the existing EMALS technology used on the Gerald R. Ford. The goal is to achieve higher speeds at lower mass to launch pound-class payloads from the lunar surface into low lunar orbit at 3,758 miles per hour (1.68 kilometers per second). Demonstrating the ability to achieve this speed for at least 100 launches without needing to replace launcher components is crucial for proving viability.

Establishing a path to a mature lunar ecosystem involves moving materials off the Moon reliably, affordably, and safely. Initially, this will depend on machinery and systems supplied from Earth. However, the ultimate aim is to create a self-sustaining ecosystem that extracts, processes, and launches lunar materials to support cislunar spacecraft and space settlements.